Tomato-scalder.



PATENTED Anna, 1905.

J. P. WALKER." TOMATO SC ALDER.

; APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1904.

witnzo qwo UNITED STATES Patented April 18, 1905.

PATENT OEEicE.

- ToMATo-scALDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 110.781484, dated April18,1905.

Application filed May 31,1904. Saria11io.210,598.

To all wlwm 1,, may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB P. WALKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Havre de Grace, in the countyof Harford and State ofMaryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTomato-Scalders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention is an improved device for scalding tomatoes and othervegetables and fruits by lowering .the same in a tank of hot water andraising the same therefromfto loosen the skins, thereof and facilitate.the peeling of the fruits and, vegetables; and my invention Consists inthe construction, combination, and arrangement of devices hereinafterdescribed andclairfied.

Inthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of ascalding-machine embodying my improvements. Fig 2 is a longitudinalsection of the same, and Fig. 3 is a transverse v quired temperature.

section of the same.

The tank 1, which contains the hot water, may be of any suitable sizeand shape. A steam-pipe 2 is here shown which extends downwardly intothe tank at one end thereof and along the bottom of the tank, itsfunction beingv to keep the waterin the tank at the re- Onone side ofthe tank is a ledge 3. On the opposite side thereof is an outwardlyextending shelf Lfhrackets 5 being provided to support said shelf. Thelatter and the ledge 3 are covered on their upper sides with suitablesheet to tal, as at 6. At the end of the tank opposite hesteampipe 2 isa vertically-movable plug valve 7 for closing or opening the opening 9in the bottom of the tank for discharging the hot water therefrom. Onthe sides of the tank at the ends thereof are bearings 9, in which arejournaled a pair of shafts 10 and 11, each of which is provided at oneend with a sprocketwheel 12. The said sprocket-wheels are connectedtogether by an endless sprocket-chain 13, which extends under the shelf4, its upper lead passing under direction-rollers 14, which are mountedin the shelf near the ends thereof. It will be understood that thesprocketwheels and chain cause the shafts to revolve simultaneously inthe same direction. The shaft 10 has a crank 15 at one end, whereby itmay be rotated, and is further provided with a ratchet-wheel 16, engagedby a gravity-pawl 17, the latter'being pivotally connected to one sideof the tank. The shafts form winches, and to the same are connected theupper ends thereon and unwound therefrom, according to the direction inwhich the shafts are turned.

19, which has its ends attached to the lower ends of the said chains,whereby the said frame may be raised and lowered by appropriatelyturning the Winch-shafts. The sides 20 of the by cross-bars 21, theupper sides of which are placed in rabbets22 in the lower corners of thesides 20 and are secured-to the latter by bolts 23. On the under edgesor sides of the and their end portions bent-down from the sides 20 andsecured to thecross-bars 21 by the bolts 23. The cross-bars 21 areconnected together by longitudinally-disposed bolt-rods tween the sides20 at the centers thereof and being flush with their upper edges. Theupper sides of the side pieces 20 of the frame are connected together by'a series of cross-bars 28, which are provided at their ends withopenings 29 to receive dowel-pins 30, which project from the upper sidesof the side pieces 20. Each "of said cross-bars 28 is formed with adepending flange 31, having shoulders 32 at its ends to bear against theinner surfaces of the side pieces 20 and provided at its -center with anopening 34. The openings 34: of the respective cross-bars 28 aline withone another, and the said cross-bars at each end of the frame areconnected together by a longitudinally-movable rod 35, which passes endof which is adapted to engage an opening 36 in one side of the cross-bar27. One of the cross-bars 28 near each end of the frame is provided witha pivoted lock button 37,

said frame have their ends connected together 26, as shown. A cross-bar27 is disposed beprojects below their-lower edges, its upper sidethrough the said alined openings, and the inner of chains 18, which areadapted to be wound In the tank is a vertically-movable frame sidepieces 20 are strap irons 25, which have their intermediate portionssecured thereto and of the frame, so that the tank and frame may bereadily cleansed when the same becomes necessary.

I In the operation of my improved scalding,

device the frame is raised above the level of the hot waterin the tank,and an operator on one side of the tank places wiretrays or othersuitable receptacles containing the tomatoes or other vegetables orfruits to be scalded on the cross-bars of the frame and by appropriately turning the crank lowers theframe into the tank so as to lowerthe vetegables or fruits into the hot water. I in the hot water asuitable length of time, and

the crank is then reversely turned to elevate the-frame and raise thetrays containing the vegetables or fruits from the water,'the said traysbeing removed from the frame by another operator stationed on theopposite side of the tank, the shelf 4 facilitating the removal of thetrays and serving to support them while being drained.

Having thus described my invention, what The same are kept I claim, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, 1sv t 1. In scalding apparatus ofthe class described, a raising and lowering frame having side pieces anda cross-piece and dowel-pins projecting upwardly from the side pieces,

cross-bars to rest on the side pieces and having openings to receive thedowel-pins, means to connect a plurality of the said Crossbars togetherand to release them at will, winchshafts at the ends of the tank, chainsconnect ing the frame to the winches, and drive-chains connecting. thewinch-shafts for simultaneous revolution in the same direction,substantially as described.

2. In apparatus ofthe class described, a raising and lowering framehaving side pieces and a cross-piece, the latter having, locknotche'sand the frame having upwardly-projecting dowelpins, cross-bars to reston the side pieces and having openings to receive the dowel-pins andfurther provided with alined openings, longitudinally-movablelockingrods in said alined openings to engage the lock-notches in thecross-piece, and means to lock said locking-rods, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

I JACOB P. WALKER. Witnesses:

H. C. FOSTER, M. E. Fos'rER.

